One of Sicily’s oldest cities, Agrigento is famous for its well-preserved archaeological site, the Valley of the Temples. Amidst this ancient city, you can discover an intriguing medieval core with Gothic cathedrals, fascinating museums and alleyway bars.

Things to do

The Valley of the Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed park and one of the greatest legacies of Ancient Greece. Discover the enthralling remains of the ancient city of Akragas, including the Temple of Concordia, considered the best-preserved Greek temple outside of Greece.

North of the temples, visit the Archeological Museum of Agrigento, showcasing Sicily’s finest collection of excavated artefacts. See a dazzling display of elaborate ceramics and a colossal statue of the mythological Greek hero, Telamon, recovered from the nearby Temple of Giove.

The main thoroughfare of the historic centre is Via Atenea. Eat traditional Sicilian dishes, like sardine spaghetti, at Expanificio Osteria and unwind with Sicilian wine at Mojo bar. Don’t miss Le Cuspidi on the tree-lined avenue of Viale Della Vittoria, where you can try ricotta-based pecorino, considered the island’s best gelato.

The Cathedral of San Gerlando is a beautiful Norman-Gothic style church worth seeing for its elaborate wooden ceiling, remarkable frescos and bell tower. Head west of Agrigento to discover the natural phenomenon of Scala dei Turchi, a remarkable white rocky cliff overlooking two white-sand beaches along Sicily’s southern coastline. Translating directly to the “Stair of the Turks”, the limestone cliff is shaped like a stairway rising from the Mediterranean.

Getting around

Frequent trains and buses run between Agrigento and major cities, including Palermo and Caltanissetta. In summer, you can take daily boats and hydrofoils to Agrigento’s Porto Empedocle. Agrigento’s town centre and medieval streets are easily traversed on foot, while buses provide transport to nearby attractions.